Receptacle for containing and discharging semisolid and pasty substances.



J. F. CRAVEN. REGEPTAGLE FOR CONTAINING AND DISGHARGING SEMISOLID AND P'AsTY SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATION FILED $1111.29, 1912.

1,036,969. Patented Aug. 2 7, 1912.

45 J l l 9 a/ ,5 /& VA I I i I FIC.5

:5 w 5 i 56. L1H

-a= 4 6i II? {mm a $0.1

wmvzsszs 2- I vzu'ron scribcd and claimed.

I dition any seml-solid or Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the JAMES CRAVEN, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CRAVEN ENGI- NEEBING COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- EECEPTACLE FOR CONTAINING AND DISCHARGING SEMISOLID AND PASTY SUBSTANCES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug 27, 1912,

Application filed January 29, 1912. Serial No. 874,039.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. CRAVEN, a

resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in 'Receptacles for Containing and Discharging Semisolid and Pasty Substances, of which the following is a specification. 'This invention relates to receptacles for containing, storing, transporting and discharging semi-solid and pasty substances.

The device is intended more particularly for putting up lubricants in the form of greases for the purposeof enabling grease to be supplied to bearings without the liability of dirt or grit entering the bearings with the grease, and also prevent smearing or soiling the hands of the workman or the machinery. The invention, however, is not limited to this particular use but is adapted for putting up in substantially scaled conpasty substances, such as soap, cosmetics, etc., and for delivering the same from the container in any dosircd quantity or quantities.

-l.he invention is an improvement upon that described and shown in my prior application filed November 11, 1911, Serial No. (359,725, for a receptacle of the character stated.

()nc object of the present: invention is to provide an improved form of connection between the whaling shaft and the means within the container for discharging the material therein, which is not liable to dc rangcmcnt or breakage by the hands of the operator and is of simple and etiicicnt construction.

Another object is to provide a form of container which will more nearly completely discharge its contents than prior containers.

The invention comprises the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter dc- In the accompanying drawing Figure l is a vertical section through a device constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2 is a detail cross section on the line 22,

arrows; and Figs. 3 and 4 are, respectively. detail views of a washer and of one end of the. Winding shaft; and Fig.

l view corresponding to Fig. 1 and showing 5 is a sectional l the a different position of the parts.

The receptacle or container may be of any desired size or shape and may be built up or constructed in any preferred manner. As shown in the drawings, it is formed as a substantially cylindrical tube 1 which may be constructed of glass, porcelain, black plate or tin plate, or, if preferred, of some thin or inexpensive material, as paste or paper board, and is shown as formed of the latter. One end of this receptacle is permanently closed by a head or cap 2, which is shown as composed of sheet metal crimpcd Firmly secured to the other end of the container is a second head or cap 3, which may be fastened to thc container in any manner and which may be of any suitable material, prci'erablv thin shcct mctal. and is shown as crimpcd to the body of the l'tiCOl'liiltilC. A rot atablc closure It mounted on the cap 3 and the closure 5 and cap arc prct'eral'ily provided with registering openings adapted to be covered and uncovered by rotation of the closure in a wcll understood manner. .llountcd to move cndwisc throughout the lcngth oi the container is a pistonor follower 4. This may be formed either as a solid block of wood. sheet metal, heavy paper or otbcr material and is shown as constru t d ot' a pair of cup-shaped blanks 5 of paper and having cylindrical outer walls or flanges 5 of slightly lcss r liamctcr than the intcrnal diameter of the container. These cups are arranged back to back or in such positions that. their rims or flanges 5'"- projcct in opposite directions along the cylinder to ati'ord a comparatively Iongbearingthcrcin and prevent wabbling of the piston as it movcs along the container. Preferably, the material of which the cups of the piston 5 are constructed is of such strength that it will retain its shape and i'or 'e the grease or other semi-solid material from the tube. Ncvcrtl'icless, the material is collapsible and is not intended to retain permanent form. As shown in Fig. 5, when the piston moves nearly to the open end of the tube, the forward cup 5 which, of course, is full of the contents of the container, encounters end closure 3 and, upon further rotation onto and over the paper tube.

of the winding shaft is collapsed thereagainst. Suitable means for moving the piston or follower -1 endwise through the container is provided, comprising essentially a flat strip or band 6 of flexible sheet metal or which may be formed as a wire or cord, and which is wound upon a shaft 7. The flexible connector 6 is secured to the piston or follower in any suitable manner. shown. it is passed through. an aperture or slot in the piston and. through a large metal washer 6 and is then turned upon itself on the opposite side thereof to form a loop or enlargement 8, preventing withdrawal of the connector through the slot or opening in the piston.

The winding shaft 7 for causing move ment of the piston or follower may be mounted at either end of the receptacle or container as described and illustrated in my prior application heretofore referred to. .\s shown, however, it is mounted in the discharge end of the receptacle and comprises a. smooth cylindrical rod extending through alined apertures 9, 10 in the walls of the cap 3 and is provided on its outer end with a suitably bent portion 11 forming a key or handle for rotating the shaft. One end of the shaft or rod 7 is provided with a shoulder 12 and a reduced end 13 having an annular groove 14' therein. A split washer 15, shown in Fig. 3, is sprung into place in the groove 14 and the engagement of the washer with the outer wall of the cap and of the shoulder 12 with the inner face thereof prevents endwise movement of the rod or shaft, as will be readily understood.

Coiled about the central portion of the rod or shaft '7 is a spiral spring 16 having opposite branches 17 and 18 coiled in the same direction 'around but in opposite directions along the rod and joined to each other by a'ccntral straight portion 19. This spring is so coiled and is of such size that each of its branches tits snugly upon the rod or sha ft 7. The flexible connector (3 is secured to the straight middle portion or loop 19 of the spring by having a fold 20 thereof passed around or through the straight portion 19 and secured to the body of the connector in any convenient manner.

The operation of the parts of my improved container will be readily understood from the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. As stated, the coil 16 is made of spring wire and is so wound as to fit closely or snugly upon the shaft. In the construction shown in the drawings, if the key 11 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the branches 17 and 18 of the coil close up and grip the rod or shaft 7 with such a force as to cause the spring torotate bodily with. the rod or shaft. The end portions 541 of the spring bite into the surface of the 'shaftand the greater the force which is exerted to turn the rod'or the tendency of the spring to grip the shaft 1 and rotate therewith. Under such circumstances, the straight portion 19 of the sprin rotates the axis of-the rod or shaft an winds the flexible connector 6 thereu on, as is readily understood, thus drawing t e piston or follower at through'the length of the container and discharging its contents through the discharge opening 21 in the end thereof. If, however, the rod or shaft 7 is rotated in a counter clockwise direction, such movement causes the coils of the spring to slightly open up and no tendency exists for the spring to rotate with the rod or shaft. Under such conditions, the rod or shaft rotates loosely and has no etfect whatever upon the spring, flexible connector or piston.

lVith prior constructions. where the spring has been secured at one end to a fixed portion of the container to prevent bach ward rotation of the shaft, it has sometime occurred that sullicient power is exerted upon the shaft to wrench the spring from its fastcnings. In my improved constrm'tion, the spring has no connection with any fixed part and cannot be broken. The present construction also obviates the necessity of slotting or otherwise deforming the central portion of the rod or shaft 7 to provide a means of securement thereto of the flexible connector. It will also be observed that when the piston or follower approaches the last portion of its traverse through the receptacle. no danger exists of backward rotation of the rod or shaft uncoiling the flexible connector therefrom and, therefore, clogging up the space in the end of the receptacle and possibly preventin further proper operation of the device. Vhen the piston reaches nearly the end of'itsstroke, the forward cup 5 contacts with the end closure 3. As stated, this is of metal and the cup formed of paper. Further operation of the winding shaft squeezes the rim or flange 5 of the cup between the washer 6 and closure 3, collapsing and crumpling it up as shown in Fig. 5. In doing this, the grease (or other material in the cup is squeezed out from the tube. It is, therefore,

necessary to waste or throw away very little of the contents of the tube when it is discarded.

What I claim is 1. A device of the character described comprising, a receptacle having a' discharge orifice, a piston or follower in said receptacle arranged when moved to force the contents through thedischarge orifice, a flex? ble connector for movin said pistmna. winding shaft for said exible connector. and connections between said shaft and flexible connector so constructed and ranged that the shaft may rotate loosely in .one direction and wind the connector thereuponwhen rotated in the other direction.

2. A device of the character described comprising, a receptacle having a discharge orifice, a plston or follower in said receptacle arranged when moved to force the contents through/the"discharge orifice, a flexible connector for moving said piston, a winding shaft for said connector, and means connecting said shaft and flexible connector and arranged to be rotated upon rotation of the shaft in one direction only.

3.. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle having a discharge orifice, a piston or'follower in said receptacle arranged when moved to force the con-. tents through the discharge orifice, a flexible connector'for moving the piston, a rotatable shaft for moving said connector-and means mounted upon said shaft for winding said connector thereupon, said shaft being freely rotatable in said means in one direction and said means being rotatable with said shaft in the other direction.

4. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle having a discharge orifice, a piston or follower insaid receptacle arranged when moved toforce the contents through the discharge orifice, a flexible connector for moving the piston, a shaft rotatably mounted in said receptacle, a spring loosely coiled upon said shaft, said spring having one portion thereof connected to said flexible connector.

5. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle having adischarge orifice, a piston or follower in said receptacle arranged when moved to force the contents through the discharge orifice, a flexible connector for moving the piston, a shaft rotatably mounted in said receptacle, and means for connecting said flexible connector to said shaft comprising a wire coiled around said shaft and loosely engaging the sanie, said wire being connected to said flexible connector, whereby rotation of the shaft in one direction will wind the flexible connector thereupon.

6. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle having a discharge orifice, a piston or follower in said receptacle arranged when moved to force the contents through the discharge orifice, a flexible connector for moving the piston, a shaft rotatably mounted in said receptacle, and

.means for connecting s'aid shaft to said flexible connector comprising a spring having a plurality of branches, each coiled around said shaft, said spring being connected to said flexible connector.

7-. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle having a discharge orifice, a, piston or follower in said receptacle arranged when moved to force the contents through the discharge orifice, a flexible connector for moving the piston, a shaft rotatably mounted in said receptacle, and means for connecting said shaft to said flexible connector comprising a sprin having oppositely disposed coils wound about-said shaft, said spring being provided with means for connecting said coils, said meansbeing secured to said flexible connc'dtor.

8. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle having. a discharge orifice, a piston or follower in said receptacle arranged when moved to force the cohtents through the discharge orifice, a flexible connector for moving the piston, a shaft rotatably mounted in said receptacle, and means for connecting said shaft to said flexible connector comprising a spring having a pair of branches, said branches being coiled in opposite directions along said shaft, and said spring having a loop connected tosaid flexible connector.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES F. CRAVEN.

Witnesses:

MARY E. CAHOON, E. L. HYDE. 

